246 
pour the milk, after straining it, from day to day until it is quite full. 
It is then covered with palm leaves and left for 12 to 14 days and some- 
times much longer, depending on ihe season, until most of the watery 
portions have either evaporated or sunk into the wood. After being 
kneaded and pressed ciate the rubber thus obtained has a dark 
brownish colour, with the inner portions S 2 slightly lighter colour. 
Such rubber is known fissi as * silk rubbe 
The em price is from 10d. to 1s. 2d. per [3 i 
The heat process is the one generally adopted = the natives of Lagos. 
This is much simpler in ee as it disposes of all the milk collected 
at the close of each day. r being strained the milk is placed in 
a vessel and boiled. The ruliber begins. to coagulate almost pee 
the heat is applied, and after 2 boiling is over is removed in a som 
what sticky A owing to being burnt, and of a blackish laie 
e local price of this Pbb is from 9d. to 15. per pound. It is 
ointed out that the heat process, though simpler, € the 
quality of the rubber, and is calculated to injure the industr t is 
probable that if the heat process were somewhat modified the results 
would not be so injurious. An experiment was tried at the Botanic 
Station to coagulate the milk by heat, but not applied directly to it. 
The result was much more et memset The rubber came off of a milky 
white colour, and after being pressed it was eeu and firm without 
being sticky. A sample of this received at Kew reported upon by 
S Hecht, Lewis, and Kahn. It is de estin piar to oe as 
Messrs. Hecut, Levis, and Kann to Royat GARDENS, Kew. 
21 dao: Lane, London, E.C., 
Dear SIR, September 13, 1895. 
We have your yesterday’s lines, and also two samples of Lagos 
rubber. 
. We have had, both in Liverpool and in Hamburg, for the last six 
months, large imports of rubber from Lagos, and this description seems 
to have been favourably received by consumers. 
oh sample No. 2 is of very fine quality, and higie Sra: worth, if 
t in the same dedii and dry condition, from 2s. 3d. to 2s. 4d. per r Ib. 
Your sample No. 3 is also good, but less close in een and much 
damper, which shiney detracts from its value. Still, the rubber is 
cleaner than the average arrivals from Lagos, and to-day’s value woul 
be about Is. 5d. to 1s. 6d. per Ib. 
From what we hear the production of rubber in Lagos is likely to 
increase largely, and we only hope that the producers will keep the 
rubber as clean and free from impurities as possible. 
Always at your service, 
n, &c. 
John R. Jackson, Esq., (Signed) "ici; Levis, & Kaun. 
Ro em Gardens, Kew. 
The history of this new rubber industry in Lagos is full of interest, 
and illustrates eod wonderfully rich resources of the vast forests of West 
Africa. I also very clearly how largely these resources can be 
developed by pe e and intelligent action on the part- of the 
ernment. 
: Should the i Kickxia rubber continue of commercial value, there 
_ is no doubt t mr nM n I ossible to establis h regular 
